Abstract. Blowing snow impacts Antarctic ice sheet surface mass balance by snow redistribution and sublimation. Yet, numerical models poorly represent blowing snow processes, while direct observations are limited in space and time. Satellite retrieval of blowing snow are hindered by clouds and only consider the strongest events. Here, we develop a blowing snow detection algorithm for ground-based remote sensing ceilometers in polar regions. Results show that 79 % of the detected events are in agreement with visual observations. The algorithm is capable to detect both blowing snow lifted from the ground and occurring during precipitation, which is an added value since most of the blowing snow occurs during synoptic events, often combined with precipitation. Our analysis of atmospheric meteorological variables during blowing snow shows that blowing snow occurrence strongly depends on fresh snow availability in addition to wind speed, while the threshold for snow particles to be lifted is commonly parametrized as a function of wind speed only. These results suggest that the effect of katabatics and wind speed might have been overestimated, and that fresh snow availability should be considered in determining the blowing snow onset.

Cited

Saved

Discussed

Blowing snow plays an important role on local surface mass balance of Antarctica. We present here the blowing snow detection algorithm, to retreive blowing snow occurence from the attenuated backscatter signal of ceilometers set up at two station. There is a good correspondance in detection of heavy blowing snow by the algorithm, and the visual observations performed at Neumayer station. Moreover, most of the blowing snow occurs duringevents bringing precipitation from the coast inland.

Blowing snow plays an important role on local surface mass balance of Antarctica. We present...